Please read our previous post, here, for a background to this post:
An extradition warrant for Mr. Coke's arrest was filed yesterday...
He is yet to be arrested.
However Tivoli Gardens (in West-Kingston and allegedly Mr. Coke's stronghold), is said to be blocked to vehicular traffic...no vehicles can go in and come out of Tivoli.
It is unlikely that Mr. Coke will resist arrest, however, as he may be entitled to bail...even though this is said to be rare for extradition cases.
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As promised, we'll discuss the rest of Mr. Golding's broadcast on Monday night.
Now, Mr. Golding and no doubt his PR people have been listening intently to the Talk Shows, here, in Jamaica.
...Jamaicans have been requesting that, accompanying any apology to the nation, should be Mr. Golding and the government's willingness to fulfill their promises made in the JLP Manifesto and MacMillan Report, before the JLP came into power in September 2007.
(The MacMillan Report, prepared in 2006, details the steps to be taken, to stem the problem of crime and violence in Jamaica).
As such, Mr. Golding handed out the following bag of goodies:
He will be transferring some of his present Ministerial responsibilities to other Ministers, so that he can concentrate on change...
...Namely holding public officials to account, pushing forward the passage of the DNA Act, Whistle-blower Legislation, Impeachment Legislation, Anti-gang legislation and will enact the de-garrisoning of Jamaica.
Let's look at each, briefly:
1) The DNA Act would allow for the wider collection of DNA evidence and it's use to convict persons in a court of law in Jamaica. Presently, DNA evidence is only allowed in paternity cases here in Jamaica.
2) The Whistle-blower Act would allow protection for Jamaicans both in the private and public sector, who inform on wrong-doers in these sectors, so that successful prosecution can take place.
3) Impeachment Legislation would ensure that public officials who are charged with misconduct, are held to account (criminally, in a court of law) and would lose their positions if they lie and/or are convicted of said misconduct.
4) Anti-gang legislation would make it illegal to be a member of a gang in Jamaica.
(Gangs are said to be responsible for over 50% of the murders that occur in Jamaica.)
5) De-garrisoning Jamaica would:
a) Make it illegal for Jamaicans to carry arms (to have guns), hence making it possible to remove guns from the garrisons across Jamaica, en masse.
b) Increase options available to garrison communities to earn income legitimately, as a reward for turning in their guns.
(Garrisons are communities that arm themselves with guns to protect themselves from the police and neighboring hostile communities.
Over 700,000 Jamaicans live in squatter settlements across Jamaica...many of which are said to be garrisons and strangleholds of either of the two major political parties...the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party (PNP).
Political tensions among these communities have often led to murder and blood-shedding].
Removing the system of garrisons would allow people in these communities to live normal lives and so be able to depend on protection from the police, as it should be in normal societies.
Unfortunately, Jamaica is far from being normal...and it will take some time to change the psyche of Jamaicans inside and outside of these communities.
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Well, all this sounds good...let's see if the PM, through his Cabinet, other Ministers and Parliament, will be able to enact the above legislation, so that we can at last have some peace in Jamaica.
Gillian
Sources Include
1) Prime Minister Bruce Golding's Address to the Nation via CVM Television, May 17, 2010
2) Article, "Gangs murdering their way across Jamaica", by Stabroek staff, Stabroek News, May 12, 2010
3) Article, "MacMillan again urges gov't to show political will to bring down crime", by Vaugn Davis, Jamiaca Observer, June 24, 2006
4) JLP Manifesto, "A Better Way - for a Better Jamaica", July 2007
